Corn-planter.



Patentedmar. la, |902.

No. 695,6I2.

F. KOSTLAU. conn PLANTER.

(Application led Ju-1y 5. 1901.)

3 Sheets-Shut l.

(.Nu Model.)

Patented Mar. la, |902.

P. KosTLAu. conn PLANER.

(Application med July 6, 19o1.\

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

abi:

No. 695,612. .Patented Map-aa, |962.

F. KosTLAu.

CORN PLANTER.

(Application led July 5, 1901.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT Truien.

FRANK KosrLAU, or Tanna, IOWA, AssIGNon or oNnLnALF To J. F. KLADIvo, OFVTRAER, iowA.

CoRN-PLANTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 695,612, dated March i8, 1902.

Application led July 5, 190].. Serial lTo.67,115. A(No model.)` Y

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK KOSTLAU, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Traer, in the county of Tama and State of Io'wa, have invented certain new and useful Improve-A ments in Corn-Planters; Aand I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention relates to automatic corn` planters designed to operate `without the use of a check-wire; and the object of the invention is to improve the construction of such planters soas to render them more accurate in the spacing of the hills and so as to'enable the .operator to manipulate and adjustthe machine with ease and certainty.

The nature of the invention will fully ap' pear in the description-and claims following,

reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a front view in perspective of a planter embodying my invention asin use.

Fig. 2 is a similar View, but from another point of observation. Fig. 3shows adetail of the shoe or runneriand its connections. Fig. 4 shows the same from the opposite point of View, together with part of the space-wheel and feed-operating mechanism. Fig.,5 is a4 machine:

A is the wheel-frame of the traction portion of the planten'supported by the covering-wheels B. This lframe is'provided with a seat C and a lev'erD'fork raising and depressing the shoes or furrow-openers E, attached to the forward or runner' frame F. This frame is jointed to the rear frame at G. H is the tongue, which is hinged to the forward frame at I, so as to have alimited movement independent of the frame. These parts are of well-known construction and common to most of the planters in general use.

In applying my improvements provision is made for a flexible connection of the tongue with the rest of the planter, and particularly the rear frame. To this end a strong spring J is secured to the tongue, its free end bearing on the under side of a bailK, to which the lever D is secured. Slotted links L, attached to the rear end of the tongue, hold the bail in contact with the spring, but allow a limited movement of the tongue and bail with respect 'to each other. It is evident that when the lever is thrown back the bail is elev ated and through the medium of the links This in turn lifts the forward frame, which is held from tilting by means which will be serves towelevate the rear end of the tongue.

hereinafter described. Near the middle of the rear frame and nearly in frontof the -drivers seat is mounted a space-wheel M in the nature of a spider, with terminal blades M', adapted to penetrate the ground asuitable distance. The diameter of the space-wheel is preferably such that it measures off two hill-spaces or cross-rows at each revolution. In practice I provide it with two blades M', diametrically opposite and considerably wider than the others, to dej note the relative position of the hill. The space-wheel is mounted revolubly between the arms of a yoke N, pivotally attached to the forward beam F of the front frame by clips N. The arms of the yoke pass back-l wardly over the rear beam F2 of the front frame. The space-wheel is fcrcedinto penetrating contact with thel earth by a springrod O, whose forward end is attached to the front beam F', and its rear end connects with the yoke by a link O. The spring-rod also supports the rear portion of the runner-frame F and prevents tilting,"as above intimated. At one side of the space-wheel and revolving with itis a sprocket P, communicating by a link belt Q with another sprocket R, secured to a shaft S, running in bearings Y, attached to the runner-frame. This shaft projects a considerable distance each side of the planter,

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and at its ends are arms S', provided with blades S2, which in the revolution of the shaft and space-wheel are designed to register with the impressions made in the earth by the two broad blades of the wheel M. Should they not so register at any time, the operator knows that the planting is out of time and adjusts the space-wheel and its connections accordingly. This is easily done by elevating the machine-frame by means of the liftlever and turning the space-wheel a little by hand, it being within easy reach of the operator. It is to be noted also that the action of the markers S2 is at all times within easy range of the operators eye, and any discrepancy between its marking and that of the space-wheel, which has previously passed over the same ground, may beinstantly noted and corrected.

In practice the arms S' are made tubular, s0 as to take the shank S3 of the markers. These are formed by folding over half-round iron and riveting the markin g-blades between the ends. The tubular arms are provided with holes S", and through these pass pins S5, also passing through the slot formed by looping the shank. This allows for a limited movement of the markers, so that in case they strike a stone or other hard obstruction they may yield without breakage or other disturbance. The blades are held normally to the proper position by a spring S between the inner ends of the Shanks. The spacing of the markers may be adjusted by means of a series of holes for the pins S5.

To prevent, as far as possible, the uneven ness of the ground from throwing the spacewheel out of line with the previous planting, I provide a shoeT to run on the ground ahead of the space-wheel and flatten out a smooth track for such wheel. This shoe is secured to the yoke at T in front and bya stirrup T2 at the rear.

To the hub of the space-wheel is clamped a pair of iron straps U by bolts U. In front of them and in their path as the space-wheel revolves is mounted a bell-crank lever V on a stud V', secured to the yoke. The upper arm of the bell-crank engages a rod YV, the front end of which connects with the rockshaft X, that actuates the feed devices. In the revolution of the space-wheel the straps U engage the free end of the bell-crank, and so oscillate the feed-shaft, which is restored to normal position by a spring, (not shown,) this spring being a part of most planters of the check-row type to which my invention is applicable with little or no change in the dropping mechanism as distinguished from the trip mechanism to actuate the dropper.

By a radial adjustment of the blades of the space-wheel the width between rows may be varied at pleasure. This may be done by providing two or more holes W W2 in the wheelarm, as shown.

In practice it is found that the curving of the space-wheel blades in the manner shown tends greatly toinsure uniform spacing, from the fact that the blades are thrust down nearly straight into the soil instead of entering it at an angle, as would be the case were they straight. In the latter case if the blade strikes a hard clod it rides over the clod instead of cutting through it, and this of course throws the space-wheel out of step with the preceding planting. It is found also that the construction is such that the operator may regulate the spacing by his foot within certain limits. If the space-wheel is overstepping, he has only to press down on the yoke carrying the space-wheel with his foot,whereby the spacing is shortened a little andthe plan ting brought into line.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a corn-planter, the combination with a pivotally-connected runner-frame and wheelframe, substantially as described, of a tongue pivotally attached to the forward part of the frame, a spring secured to the upper part of the tongue, a bail mounted on the rear frame, a lever to tilt the same, and links attached to the tongue and embracing the bail, said links being slotted to allow movement of the bail toward the tongue,substantially as described.

2. In a corn-planter, the combination with a space-wheel and seed-dropping mechanism,

substantially as described, of an adjustable tripping device clamped to the hub of the space-wheel, and adapted to engage the tripping-lever of the dropper.

3. In a corn-planter, the combination with the forward or runner frame of the planter, of a space-wheel yoke hinged to the forward beam and passing over the rear beam of said frame, a spring secured to the front beam and passing under the rear beam, and a connection of the rear end of said spring with said yoke, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK KOSTLAU.

Witnesses:

JOHN C. I-IEALD, M. II. BURTON.

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